North Carolina Newspapers

n o 4v 1)T I A. ROSCOWER, Editor, " HERE SHALL THE PRESS T1IE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS MAINTAIN, UNA WED BY INFLUENCE AND UNBRIBED BT (JAIN. Y. V. DAVIS, Publisher. VOL. I. NO. 21. GOLDSBORO, N. C, FRIDAY, JANUARY. 27, 1888. Subscription, 01.00 Per Year. IT r 1LV r LSJI '-sy WHAT IT IS TO BE FORTY. discover a Fprhikle of gray in your beard, 4 a thinness of crop w'nera the uplan 1 ia . c'laied; '. note how yo-.i take to your slippers and is i own, a hug to the Cre wLen you get home froa flown; ; Ah, that's what it is to be forty. i find that your shadow has portlier grown, at your voice has a practical, bnsiness-likd t, tone ; jat your vision is tricky which onco was bc ad a Lint of a v.-riiV;e is coming to light; A Ah, that's what it is to be forty. ' "Jci.h ride, a party, a dance or a dino, ,. jy, of courso you'll be present, you nevei decline; Est, aim! there's no invite, your not young n fi!!, you see; Tott'ie no longer a peach, but a crab apple tlie; Ah, that's what it is to be forty. A daughter that gr ws liko a lily, a queen, And that blooms like a rose in a garden ol . preen. tbippcr yonng cle rk !n an ico cream saloon, 4.1 1 a dii'le and a dunce is to carry off soon, id a hoy that is ten. and th.3 pride of j-oui .cu:r;M smoking vi'.e cigarettes on the sly ? Ah, that's what it is to be forty. t twenty a man dreams of power and famo; .'.t thirty his .ire has a soberer flame; At forly his drums a:i 1 visions are o'er, iljd he knows and lie fools as he ne'er did be- : S That a man i a a fool till he's forty. J Mrs. Ockdyne's Fright, ilEX JOHN OCK dyne lay insensible from tho apopleetii seizure which ter minatcd in hi. death, his wife act oil as though she was ft singular! j heartless and tie c e i t f u 1 w o m a n of the temporary doctor, who hac iking advantage b-vnce of tlie jlenmly pronounced that a fata! June of the sick man's malady, was hu manely speaking, inevitable, Mrs. Oek dyne possessed herself of her husband's "icys, and crept steathily down to his Judy, where she unlocked a drawer in Jis escritoire, pud took from it a bundle I documents, which she carefully con cealed about her person. She then re turned to the sick-room, replaced the keys with a trembling hand beneath the pillow on which the dying man's head reeled, and resumed the anxious and watchful position by the bedside which t!ic had occupied for many hours previ casiy. !ut she looked so pale and agi tated that the doctor, who made his ap penranon a minute afterward, accom- M.;...l l.:r 1,1V occi.-fon ,vli.,..l ti her, and said, in a peremptory tone; -2c" You must realiy obey my directions, rh aso go to your room and rest, and ke some refreshment. Your husband lay remain in his present state for Ours, and you are already over-wrought id fatigued. If the slightest symp tom of a change occurs you shall be sent . :jt lns'a-.itly' ;"! would rather remain." said Mrs. Oekdyne, with decision. .The do j tor shrugged his shoulders irritably, and turned his attention to pat.ont. whose labored and stento rian breathing rendered inaudible the whispered consultation which ensued between the medical men. This was in terrupted by the entrance of Wiliiani Ockdyiio, the younger brother and part jcor of the invalid, a tall, stern, elderly cnsynipatheiic-loijking individual, with cild, stool-bluo eyes, which, after a q-aiek glance at tlie unconscious form UDon tlie bed. ha directed with susni- cioiis scrutiny upon the pale face of his sister-in-law, as she advanced to greet him. ' VJIow long has he been like this?" he fcquried, abruptly. - "Since midnight," answered Mrs. Oekdyne. "Why did not you send for me be fore?" h j demanded in a harsh, unploas nt voic: T i if 'I sent for you as soon as Dr. Thorne pronounced the case to be hopeless," i "id Mis. Ockdyno, tremulously. .Mrs. Ockdyue evidently resented this f bus-examination for some weighty rea t ,as, and her handsome features hard ened while her brother-in-law spoke. William Oekdyne, whether consciously CT otherwise, evaded her glance, and his cold, blue eyes ranged round the apart : 3ii t with a look of cunning suspicion. - "Come, Mrs. O -Itdyne," said the doc- removing U lingers from tho sick dan's jnilse, "now that your brother-in llf has arrived, you need have no hesi tation about goieg to your room. "We will remain here, and I will remembei my promise." . Either yielding to the doctor's per--insion or in consequence of the uneasi- 2ts and aversion which tho presence of . jr brotln-in-hnv evidently caused ! 8r, Mrs. Ojkdyne no longer persisted i her bjection, but rose from hei t'inir without a word, aud left the room a Hh an air of suppressed agitation. : .Viking quickly along the passage and u, jsvn the staircase, she entered a small ctting-room on tlie half-landing, and closed and locked the door bo hind her, she fell in an almost fainting COSidition upon the nearest sofa. Very different was now the aspect of Zx$. Oekdyne from that of tho proud, c Id, self -const raijied woman of a mo t tut ago. All her energy and spirit .emed to have decerted her, and she l:oked the picture of helpless misery i XI apprt iiei-sion. Tho Jiard lines tout her face had disappeared, reveal 2 a character of weakness, irresolu , and even feebleness. Her features pi no longer handsome, but rather V-ved the remains of a soft, tender, p'h kind of beauty, half oblitereted fa life of hardship and unhappiness. Jc presented, in fact, a glimpse of hei he self; the Mary Bannerman who jd married John 0kdyuo ten years f'', a woman designed by nature to be K '"tie tender, loving wife and mo ffr, but transformed by harshness and jan n y into the semblance of a strange- d i ssi n i lar chara ; tor. y en years ago! Itrseomed a century' P1' yet it was, in fact, less than tea u emco that fatal day when hei WW husband's rough kindness for it would be profane t dignify his. solfish affes tion for ht;r by tin name of love waa turned into relentless distrust and tyr rany. The visible cause of this trans formation she now held in her agitated hand -a bundle of letters written in ink which wa3 now faded. Alas! if they had been written with her heart's blood she would have suffered less. There is no occasion to rake up the details of her unfortunate flirtation with Allan Graham. It was not generally supposed to bc of a serious nature by those who knew of it at the time. A weak, gi ldy, thoughtless girl, married, against her will, to a mau of twenty years her senior; a young soldier-love of former days, culpably reckless of a woman's reputation, but moaning, per haps, no hirm ; a fiercely jealous hus band, of a disposition cruel and vindic tive "nmmou ingredients these, in blighted lives and domestic misery; and as Mrs. Ockdyne'o story contains nothing novel or entertaining, we will pass it over lightly as the world did for a wonder without imputing blame to anyone. John Ochdyne, however, neither for got nor forgave. His brother Wil liam, whether from basely selfish motives, or from real suspicion bred of the proneness of some con temptiblc minds to disbelieve in in nocence, helped to keep alive this re sentment. He did not separate from his wife; indeed, he had no evidence tfl justify an extreme course. "But he gavd rein to his harsh, overbearing, suspi cious nature; In crushed and humbled to the earth the unhappy woman whou he had swr:i to love and cherish. II thought himself justified, perhaps, in making her repent bitterly of her indis cretion, and, perhaps, it may in charitj be doubted whether his vulgar, coarse grained temperament enabled him t realize the full extent of the suffering he inflicted, lie kept Allan Graham' letters, and in s-avago moments pro duced them and taunted her with them lie held them in terrorism over her threatening to show them, even; thougi his wife, cowed as she was, could nevei believe him capable of this baseness, Still, the very fact of these compromis ing documents continuing in existence had always haunted Mrs. Oekdyne with an uneasy feeling of insecurity, and she had appealed over and over again in vain to Iter husband to destroy them. ; l '' s M "jS'.'ie thrust the packet of papas in'o the fire." "Without more ado she stirred the fire into a blaze and thrust the packet of letters iuto it. Words would fail to describe tha blessed sensation of un spcakable relief with which she beheld the fatal papers ignite and slowly burn and smoulder away into a shapele-ss mass of tinder. But she was not allowed time to completely recover her com posure, for barely had the ilame died down when she was startled by a" knock at the door. Instantly apprehending a message relating to her husband, she rose at once and turned the key back in the lock; but Iiefore she could grasp the handle the door was opened from' with out, and her brother-iu-!aw stopped nimbly into tlie room. "What is the matter?" inquired Mrs. Oekdyne, in alarm and confusion. "Your husband is worse," said Wil liam Oekdyne with a comprehensive glance ronnd the room as he spoke. "Worse!" exclaimed Mrs. Oekdyne, "Yes; another seizure."' Mrs. Oekdyne rushed past without giving another thought to her room as to her mvnaiFairs. Had she done so, she would have waited to allow him to pre cede her, for in tlie single instant that ie lingered ou the threshold of her room, he unhappily caught sight of the charred embers in the fireplace. Xot a word did he utter, however, but followed silently to his brothers's bedside. . I he seizure winch v luiam Oekdyne came to report turned out to be tho last flicker of John Ockdyne's life. A few minutes later he had expired. Mrs. Oekdyne left the chamber of death with that awestricken and chast ened feeling which the last earthly scene never fails to impart, aud when, later in the day, she went down-stairs to give some orders to her servants, she learned that William Oekdyne had just left, after taking posession of the dead man's keys, aud thoroughly overhauled all the dead man's papers. Heals had been placed upon her husband's desk and es critoire, upon the plats-chest, and even, as she was informed, upon the door of the wine-cellar. Mrs. Oekdyne experi enced some natural indignation at these proceedings, considering that her hus band had ceased to breathe but a few hours previously. The news, however, affected her chiefly as proving what a wise precaution she had taken in secur ing thos3 fatal l?tters now happily no more ; a fact which rendered her com pletely indifferent to William Ockdyne'o proceedings. There was a curious deference in the tone of the servants when they mention ed the name and stated the orders given by her brother-in-law, and a marked mys tery in their manner toward herself, which puzzled Mrs. Oekdyne. though she for bore to make any remark on the subject. But she concluded from these signs that it had gone forth that William Oekdyne was iiis brother's heir; and that she her self was, so to speak, deposed. Her brother- in-law's bearing toward her, how ever, during the interval before the fun eral did not entirely bear out this idea. It was true that he took possession of his brother's valuables, anil assumed a control over the household which Mrs. Oekdyne did not care to dispute. Hut while- treating the yoor lady with' the scantest courtesy, he seemed to regard her with a sort of jealous suspicion, which which appeared quite accountable. The result was, that although Mrs. Oekdyne strove to take comfort from the reflec tion that he was powerless to harm her in any way, she was seized with a vague and uncomfortable presentiment of evil which she could not shake off. William Oekdyne did not let fall a single word about the contents of his brother's will to his sister-in-law before the funeral, and as he seemed desirous to avoid the subject Mrs. Oekdyne fore bore to question him. But on the after noon of the day when the funeral took place, he grimly requested her to, when the other members had left thejuuse, to step into the study to hear the will read. This she accordingly did, more because sho thought it was expected of her than from any pressing desire for information, when sho found her brother-in-law in company with a sharp-featured, red-whiskered little man, whom he briefly introduced to her as Mr. Bo gle, the solicitor who had prepared the will. As soon as Mrs. Ockd3ne had seated herself Mr. Bogle produced from his pocket a somewhat torn and dilapidated looking document, from which lie pro ceeded to read in a brisk, high-toned voice. Tlie will of the deceased, which was dated some years back, may be briefly summarized as follows: The wid ow took only a legacy of 2,000 and certain furniture, and the bulk of the testator's property went to his brother William, who was appointed sole execu tor. "It is what I expected," paid Mrs. Oekdyne, quietly, when the lawyer had finished, imagining, from the way that he and her brother-in-law stared at her, that she was expected to say some thing. "No doubt, madam, it is what you expected," said Mr. Bogle, briskly, as he folded up the document, "And now, if you please, will you kindly hand me tho original ?" "The original will, do you mean?" in quired Mrs. Oekdyne, innocently. " Is not that it" "Xo, madam. This is the draft of the will which I prepared for the testator, and which I saw him execute," said Mr. Bogle, shaking the document at her im pressively. "The testator took away the original, and kept it himself." "Why do you suppose that I have the will?" exclaimed Mrs. Oekdyne, in sur prise. The lawyer looked slightly embar rassed at the question and glanced up at William Ockdj'ne, who had remained standing in front of the fireplace during the scene, watching his sister-in-law in tently. He now came forward and said, slowly and distinctly: "Because you took it out of the escri toire yonder wlen my brother was dy ing." Mrs. Oekdyne half rose from her seat at this startling accusation, but dropped back into it again, as sho realized that the occasion referred to was when she ab tracted Allan Graham's letters. "I never saw the will, and know noth ing about it," was all she could say in her agitation and alarm." "Hid you burn it, madam, in your room that day when I interrupted you with the news that your husband's last moments had arrived?" said William Oekdyne, leaning forward and address her in a harsh and menacing tone. "I I . No, certainly not!" gasped the poor lady, fairly overwhelm ed with this fresb accusation. "One of the servants can prove that you left your husband's bedside when you thought you were unperceived, and came in here with your husband's keys in your hand. Another can corroborate my evidence that immediately afterward you burnt a" document in the fire in your room. Some of the ashes have been collected and will be put in evidence," continued her brother-in-law, evidently seeking to convince her of the hopeless ness of denial. "The case is quite complete," added the lawyer, in a self-satisfied tone. 'Trobate will be granted on this draft, upon the strength of the' evidence the strong evidence which we can produce to prove the destruction of the original." "What do you suggest could have been my object in destroying the will, supposing I were capable of doing such a thing?" inquired Mrs. Oekdyne, re covering her presence of mind suffici ently to be conscious- of the necessity of realizing her iosition. "The motive is obvious," replied Mr. Bogle, with a smile. "If your husband had died intestate, you would have been entitled, as his widow, roughly speak ing to half his property, instead of "'2000 only." - The significance of this reply had a crushing effect upon the poor lady, whoso perceptions, naturally far from dull, were rendered doubly aeute by tho danger of her position. She realized that the very act of proving her inno cence 'of the monstrous accusation brought her would reveal the secret which sho had fondly hoped was now forever buried the story of her sup posed shame. If brought to trial, it mattered not whether she might be found innocent or guilty of the princi pal charge; in either case the miserable story which had wrecked her life would bo dragged forth and published to the world. "2bii doubtless perceive madam; that your attempted fraud will not avail you. The destruction of the will is a crime in itself, which renders you liable, I be lieve, to penal servitude," resumed Wil liam Oekdyne, glancing at the lawyer. "I am unwilling, however," he added, "for the sake of my brother's memory, and for the sake of our family name, which you have the right to bear, that scandal should ba caused. If, under Mr. Bogle's directions, you will sign the necessary documents to enable me to administer to my brother's estate and retain possession of his property which I am entitled to under the terms of his will, I will be content to let the matter rest." Having said this, William Oekdyne resumed his former position upon the hearthrug, while tho lawyer proceeded to explain the' details of the proposed arrangement. The ioor lady's first im pulse was to accept the conditions offered, but the sense of justice to her self fortunately restrained her. "I will consider your proposal," she said tremulously, "because, so far as the money is concerned, I am absolutely indifferent. But I must have time for reflection." "How long do you require?" said her brother-in-law, reluctantly. "A week," said Mrs. Oekdyne, rising with dignity from her place at the table. William Oekdyne exchanged glances with the lawyer, and seemed on the point of remonstrating with her; but apparently he changed his mind, for he permitted his sister-in-law to retire from ihe room without another word. As a matter of fact, however, Mrs. Oekdyne li a 1 already resolved to com ply with his demand sooner than ineur the odium and scandal involved in n public trial. It was absolutely true, as she had stated that she was indifferent to the pecuniary aspect of the question ; for sho was not au avaricious women, and she possessed a few thousand pounds of her own. It was only h?r proper pride and self-respect which had suggested to her to take time for consideration. It was impossible to doubt, from her brother-in-laws' de meanor, that ho seriously believed that she was guilty of the charge he brought against her; and this led poor Mrs. Oekdyne to wonder uneasily wheth er she could really have destroyed the will. Allan Graham's letters formed a bulky packet, and it had certainly not occurred to her to go through them in order to ascertain that there was no oth er paper tied up with them. Her hus band's will was a short document, and it would have been characteristic of his brutally vindictive disposition if he had placed the letters with his will, as a sort of grini explanation to her of the cause of the meagre provision he had made for her. This idea, far-fetched as it might have appeared to her in calmer mo ments, nevertheless tended to strengthen her decision. Having arrived at this conclusion, Mrs. Oekdyne was almost relieved at receiving a second visit from her brother-in-law, who called later in the even ing, to urge her to sign tho necessary documents, waiving her legal claims, without delay. He had brought tlie papers with him, and Mrs. Oekdyne could not withstand the temptation of disposing of the whole miserable busi ness without the worry of further har assing reflections. William Ockdyne's manner, moreover, though peremptory and overbearing was nevertheless more conciliatory than it had been in the day, and he evinced a desire, which poor Mrs. Oekdyne in her trouble apprecia ted, to spare her feelings by avoiding any unpleasant allusions. She had ac tually taken her pen for the purpose ci signing away her interest in her hus band's property, when a maid-servant entered the room, and rather mysteri ously requested her to come outside at once. William Ockdyno impatiently asked her to sign the papers before she left, but his sister-in-law, resenting his inter- ".1 mail .orrn int cut ml the room and rather mysteriously a. t.xd Jur to cotne cvtuvte." ference, laid tlie pea aside and rose in response to the servant's Mimmons. Outside the door the girl whispered that a gentleman was in the diuiug-room, who would not give his name when lie heard that she was engaged with Mr. William Oekdyne, but desired to speak jo her forthwith. Considerably mystified and vaguely alarmed, Mrs. Oekdyne proceeded to the dining-room, where she found await ing her a quoei -looking, rosy-cheeked., gray-haired, old gentleman, who, ad vancing toward her with a paternal air, held out his hand and said his name was Parchment. "I am deeply grieved, my dear madam, that, owing to absence from town I did not hear of your husband's death till my return to-day. His strict injunctions were that should he ever bo suddenly taken ill, which he seemed to apprehend, I was immediately to com municate with you. Hearing from the servant that you were engaged with Mr. William Oekdyne, I thought it advisa ble to ask you to stop out anil see me," he added, eonfid"ntially. "May I inquire the abject of your visit?" said Mrs. Oekdyne, staring at him. "Your husband called upon me, my dear madam, a few months back ou the subject of his will. He showed me tho will which his former solicitor, a Mr. Bogle, had prepared for him, and I told him that it was a wicked, cruel and un just will," said tho old gentleman, stoutly. "Did my husband explain " mur mured Mrs. Oekdyne, with rising color. "He explained everything, aud his explanations did not altor my opinion," said Mr. Parchment, looking at her le nevolently. "To make a long story short, I prevailed upon him to de stroy his former will aud to make an other, which does justice to you, his wife, madam." "And you have this will?" exclaimed Mrs. Oekdyne, clasping her hands to gether. "Here, madam, in my bag," said Mr. Parchment. "The fact is," he added, "that your hus band was considerably influenced by his brother, and, I think, secretly afraid of him. At all events, he asked me to take charge of tho will and to look after your interests when occasion arose." "I am accused of having destroyed the will prepared by Mr. Bogle !" cried Mrs. Oekdyne, almost beside herself with mingled thankfulness and emotion. "He destroyed it himself, my dear madam, in my ojplce," said Mr. Parch ment, soothingly. k "William Oekdyne has come to-night for the purpose of getting me to tign papers renouncing all claims to my hus band's property. He is in there in th study," exclaimed the poor lady, hyster ically. "Let me have five minutes with him," said Mr. Parehment, briskly, as he moved toward the door. "The scoundrel," he added, under his breath. "Boglo must have received my message this after noon. I expected something of this kind." Loudon Truth. . TELEGRAPHIC TiCKS. THE SOUTHERN STATES. New Collected bylWire and Mail From All fans of Dixie. A mine of paint clay has been found uear McXair Station, Miss. A snowfall is reported from the section about Henderson ville, N. C. Petersburg, Lincoln Couuty, Tenn., has subscrilx'd $25,000 for a bank. Prohibition will rule in all but about a dozen towns in Arkansas this year. The Standard Oil Company is to have a warehouse built at Tallahassee. Pine Bluff, Ark., expects to handle fM,000 bales of cotton this season despite (he short crop. Clarksvillc, Ark., will follow the ex ample of Little Hock and forbid the sale of cigarettes to 1kvs. Mrs. Polly Butler, living near Cleburne, Ark., is eighty years old and has eighty two grand children. Sam Leo, aged C . died in jail at Corinth, Miss., last Tuesday. He was charged with horse stealing. Only 0,000 has been secured of the $100,000 subscription at Pcnsacola, Fla.. to secure the Pensacola and Memphis road. Two human skulls were recently unearthed at Clarksdalc, Miss., by men diging a ditch. Their presence there is a mystery. A northern girl now living near Tren ton, Tenn., takes her gun and goes afield and kills more game than any of the young men. At a ball near Hot Springs, Ark., re cently a young lady, her mother, grand mother and great grandmother danced in the same set. Strangers often ask if the population of High Point, X. C, is not about 1,000. A careful estimate shows the population to bc about 2,.')00. The Jackson, Tenn., Dispatch has been presented with an eggone inch in diameter and three inches long, and shaped like a Chinese lady's shoe. The schooner Myra Pratt, Sherman master, of Mobile, was wrecked on Tain pico bar a few days ago, and two lives lost. Part of the cargo of crossties was saved. At Xashville, Tenn., on Sunday night, Warden Tearcey of the State penitentiary discovered a desperate plot among the convicts to murder the guards and es cape. The oldest person in North Carolina was buried a few days ago, Ivung about 120 years old. He went by the name of Adam Mcndcnhall. and at one time the body servant of the late George W. Mon denhall. Seventeen negro farmers of Attala, County, Miss., each year give a prize to one of their number who raises the larg est hog. The prize for the year was re cently taken by Elain Meek. His hog was twenty-three months old and weigh ed C15 pounds. During 1S&7, says tho Brookhavcu Bad iator, there has been started in Mis sissippi three cotton and woolen mills, one blast furnace, four mines and quar ries, three railroad companies, fifteen woodworking establishments and twenty one miscellaneous industries. George Hunter, alike by name and oc cupation, of Ekenhockhatchie County, Fla., expects to receive 14,000 back pensions from the United States gov ernment. He is an Indian soldier, and also claims to have hauled the lirst lum ber for the first house in Orlando. Work on the Stokedale and tho Madi son branch of the Capo Fear tV Yadkin Valley railway, North Carolina, com menced a few days ago. Part of the con vict gang on the Monroe and Atlanta road has been removed to w ork on this new enterprise. . Captain W. S. Pitt, of Orlando, a well know n saurian hunter of South Florida, has gone into the culture of tobacco, and will set out several acres near Orlando. The Captain says that in 1870, in the Poyntz, he raised tine tobacco and made it into cigars, which he sold rapidly at $.3 per hundred. . The reputation of High Point, N. C. as a health resort, for Ixith winter and summer, in growing rapidly, and the at tention of people in every direction is being drawn toward her. An able Pres byterian minister of Virginia speaks of going there to live with the hope of im proving the health of both his wife and daughter. Near Marion, Crit tendon County, Ark., last week a wake was held over the ImkIv of Mrs. AVm. McNclly, the religious services being conducted by Parson Wm. Bobinson. in the course of his remarks Bev. Bcbinson made use of several un complimentary allusions to other persons present, whercujKn the husband of the deceased knocked him out with a club. The obsequies came to an untimely end Anderson, S. C, holds her reputation as a live stock market". The stablemen arc sending out large numlcrs cf mules and horses every day. Some one has asked what becomes of all the mules that arc scattered over Anderson and sur rounding counties every year. If they do not (lie rapidly and arc not kept moving on into other counties, surely Anderson, Abbeville, Laurens, Green ville, Pickens and Oconee will soon le overstocked, Articles Fonud in an Etruscan Tomb. A fine glass varc, just discoverel in an Etruscan tomb at Bologna, is of a sea green color, like a soda water bottle, thi.k and of a unique form, with two handles. It is nine inches high and with out ornamentation. There is not a single defect, flaw, track, or ch:p about it. With it was found an ivo-y chair, nude after the fashion of a modern camp stool, having all its screws aud rivets still in perfect condition, and a small casket containing beads and some very elegant articles in bronze. The crticles are sup posed to date fro-n the fifth century The tomb in which they were found wii closed at the top by an enormous globu ular nus3 of ttone as fresh & if it had oily been fashioned yesterday. NEWS AND NOTES FOR WOMEN. Fog collars of black velvet are studded with small silver bugs. Many of the best dresfed women in New York have discarded the bustle. In flower pins, a single blossom upon a big leaf enameled in the natural color is the most attractive new fancy. Fonncts in velvet or plush, heavily bed'cneii with gilt or silver, arc shown as the thing for evening wear. Marriageable young girls in Kansas make it a point to take up a land claim as the first step toward securing a hus band. 1 Fashion now requires the lady to ex change rings with her fiance, and thecor lect one for the purpose is of heavy gold, with a single stone set flush. The artistic blending of colors as well as the beauty of design make the Amer ican silk fabrics take a foremost rank with the product of any silk looms in the world. If studs are worn, three is the correct number and they must be fine but in conspicious pearls. Small diamond and rubies all are worn, but plain gold still has the call. Two bright New Jersey young women, dissatisfied with the money they mad teaching, invested -)0 in poultry. The first year their profits were $1,000, the second $3,030. White India silk is in hisrh favor with many mothers for dressy fro:-ks for theii little giris, and it is ucd even for th long christening robe of the youngest memicr of the family. The Queen Feger.t of Spain is gain ing a great hold on the affection of her subject, and is said to be a wonderful woman, charming in manner and pos sessing great administrative ability. Dresses of white camel's hair, or ol white cloth with pinked edges, are worn by little girls at parties and other enter tainments. The only garnitures are a guimpc and sleeves of colored velvet. The p ettiest of all furs this season it Xh-j bear, f jr the golden brown and othei soft sha-les in this fluffy fur make it a very becoming trimming if worn as a bow or simply in a band about the outei garment. Mrs. James Brown Potter's gowns which gave the most satisfaction to hei audience were those with graceful, falling folds of rhh stuffs which the leading French modistes delight in, in the styh of Bemhardt's l eautifnl costumes. Simple velvet bonnets arc made with low crowns and have very decided puff ing at the ba?k, but are smooth upon the brim. The only trimming is an Alsatian bow of four-inch ribbon, tightly strapped, i and placed far back on the crown. A polonaise or waist and draperies of uiacK cioin is again fashionable worn over a colored skirLprefcrably tan, irrcen. terra cetta, light Illinois or pear! gray, and as material silk or ve lvet has the call, though contracting wool is sometimes seen. 'Hi? Conncmara cloak is one of the prettiest among the new cloaks. The yoke is of plush or velvet, on which is sewn ii gathered plaits the fullness of the kirt. A ga'hering at the waist line in the back gives a pretty curve over the bustle. At a recent fashionable English wed ding the bridemaids were little girls, each or:c wearing a frock of white serge j braided with dark red, red sashes and hose, and a white felt hat braided to match the drcs, with large red bows at one side. For trimming there are ribbons in im- mouse variety silk, velvet, plush, gauze -and many with seven shades of one color. They are four to seven inches idc, and the crown? are swathed rather than tr mmed with thcm,uuless a loosely tied scarf is the style chosen. I ow crowned poke, with a projecting front which shades the eyes, arc worn by inissc5, and they are very becoming to young, fresh fares. Very wide ribbon is arranged carelessly on the front, or in loops coming from tlie back, and long, streaming ends arc sometimes added. Milwaukee has a bowling club of eighteen fair damsels who practice re ligiously seven times a week and have become strong and robust from the cx crc'se. They are very expert at the ;ame and confidently expect to vanquish iny club of gentlemen that may chal lenge them. The Princess of Wales's favorite flower is the wild and peculiarly fragraat lily of the valley, wli.-h i9 found in large, irregular patches in AVolferton Woods, Norfolk. These woods are all that le main of a primeval forest, and are full of romance and beauty. The lilacs are gathered in great bunches, their snowy bells protected by their own cool, green leaves, packed in light, w icker hem pers, and sent to Marlborough IIoue, whore the Princes herself arranges them for her Inrndoir. The fashionable woman of to-day, says th? New York Tim;. threatens to soon outshine the Drum Major in the matter of brad. Skirts, waists, wraps, and the crowns of bonnets and hats are now dec orated with raas:-es of intricate braiebng in gold, sT -cr, and bright colors. The men; elaborate the braiding the more fashionable the costumenow seems to he a rule universally observed. Cold braid is used indiscriminately, but generally on costumes cf either white, black, or dark b!ue or green, and silver braid light up the dark street costumes. Harper Pickens, for more than forty years the lody servant of Covcrnor Pickens, died a few days ago at the ad vanced age of ninety. Such was the fidelity and love he bore his master that during the time that Governor Pickins was minister to Russia he took entire control of the Governor's planting interests, and such was the confidence placed in him by his master that it is said the Governor would never make a change in his planting ocrations with out consulting Harper, and that on one occasion while in Congress some question jH'rtaining to national affairs came up for the Governor's decision, and leing somewhat perplexed as to the true solu tion of the matter, he instinctively called i r Harper's advice. A critic is a man who on all occasions is more attentive to what ia wanting than what is present. There are forty thi ly pap.rs in New York I Ur. THE JOKER'S BUDGET. WIIAT THE HU3IOROUS ARE SAYIXG. MEN Information "Wanted A Narrow Es capeA Very Bad Thine A Wild Indian A Severe Test, etc., etc WHAX SHE WOCXD fAIi HIM. Young Mr. Cilly I say, Cousin Am anda, would you aw call me a dude Amanda No, dear; just a little harm less dadelet, that's all. Tcx-u Sifting. SOOLrO-VAV. Hi Yankee feet are on our shore, 'Hool o'vhan, our Sool o'vliau ! IIo'b com? to tap the British Roro, Snol o'vlian. our Sool o'vhan-! Let I'.ison William hunt hig hole. IIih fame in now a broken tonl ! One man alone charms England's Bonl, Jsool o'vhan, our fkol o'vhan ! Burdftie. EXPERT TESTIMONY. "Do you think lhi night air is nn healthy?" asked Mrs. Cumso of hei husband. "People who have been on a night tear tell mo it is," was the reply. ncKiNo cr. Mrs. Dumpsey Our Bessio is th brightest little child you ever saw. Sri picks up everything she hoars. Mrs. Popinjay Something like out Willie. He picks up everything he sees. Burlington Free Pir. LUCKY FEIJ.OW. Jones (meeting Smith with whom he was out the night lfore) Ha, me boy! Get home all right ' Smith (gloomily) Yes, but my wife w ouldn't speak to me. Jones (enviously) Lucky fellow! Mine did Boston Courier. not :loxg. "Mamma," said a little five year-old ,KV li!e ?uier ,la a,ler a ra"er i", - ":Mrs- Aewcomn i.as noi uvea long in VUllCiV", PHir? i IllltUVJUU lllllin so, Willie (" inquired the mother. "Because she has cot learned how tc say Wobbyshavnoo." Chicago Tribune. PRESERVED SNAKES. On one of these hunts a lady who was searching for botanical specimens hap- ?ned ' tin" a to come along, just as I was put snake into one of the tin cans. She inquired what I was going to do with it, and I said "Preserve it." Tlrt ft-ifv til-n rrruvl nmmms V9 ctlvk asked. I -.1 I IMPARTING INFORMATION'. Teacher Yes, children, the hairs of olir i10a(l are all numbered. Smart Jioy (pulling out a hair and presenting it) Well, what's tho num- i ber of this hair? j Teacher Number one, Johnny, and (pulling out several more) these are numbers two, three, four, five and six. Anything else you want to know ? Smart Boy -N-no,sir.--frrr' Bizir. A SEVERE TEST. "If I should tell you, dear," ho said, "that my love for you' had grown cold: that I had ceased to care for you, and that the happy time when I shall claim you as my ownest own will never, never bo, would it really be a trial to you, darling?" "Yes, George," shyly admitted the girl, "it would Ixj a breach of promise trial." A LUCKY DOG. Brown You're a lucky dog, Robin son. So vou married a girl worth half million dollars in her own right. Eobinson (rather more sadly thaa the circumstances seem to warrant) Yes. Brown You ought to put up the drinks. Robinson All right, old man. Just wait while 1 run into the house and see if I can get a dollar. on, SAY. "Miss Allibone," said Mr. Beau last Sunday evening, as they Bat by the dim lijrht of a turned-down kerosene lamp, ' "Your voice is a constant reminder to me of a beautiful song." "Ah, Mr. Beau, how sweet of you to say that. Is it any particular song V " Yes the 'Star Spangled Banner, because you always legin with, 'Oil, say!' " Melrose Mast.) Journal. Atili rig nT. An Irishmau called at tho office of a fire insurance company to inquire of tho agent what rate hu could make him on some property ho hail to insure. Tho agent replied, "It depends on the sur roundings." "Oh, thim's all right. It is surrounded on wan side by a barn ; all the other sides are surrounded by well, it is all null and void, as it were." It is needless to a Id that tho agent saw the point and gave him a good rate. Social Science lievicir. HAPPILY ARRANGED. Georcre You look sleepy, John. - John I diil not get to bed until 3 ! o'clock this morning, 1 was out calling . on my girl "ii ree o'clock ! I should think the old man would have come down stairs with a shotgun." -filler father is a widower and is court ing a lady in the next block. I never have to leave until he comes home. Omaha World. ANOTHER ONE GONE. First Anarchist So poor Herr Bierup is dead, eh?" Second Anarchist Yah, dot great vil anthropist ish gone. He blow hisself up. "Eh? Mit dose bombs dot he vas make for dem millionaires, eh?" " He got too close to dot cas lieht mit I Us breath."